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Woman Shot By Capitol Police Had History Of Mental Health Issues

(WASHINGTON, DC) - The woman shot and killed after leading police on a chase in Washington, DC may have thought President Obama was stalking her.

Law enforcement sources also tell NBC News that Miriam Carey had a history of mental health problems.

Carey drove into a security fence Thursday outside the White House, hit a Secret Service officer with her car, then sped toward the Capitol. When police got her stopped, Carey put the car into reverse and took off with police opening fire. Her 18-month-old daughter was in the car but not injured.

Miriam Carey's former employer, a dentist, says she kept to herself.

"She didn't want to have a personal relationship with anybody in the office. She's somebody that kinda came in, did her job, and left," said Dr. Barry Weiss, Carey's former employer. Weiss, who fired Carey, said she was stressed out after the birth of her daughter.

"We had a few incidents of her being headstrong and some hot-tempered situations, but for the most part she was an average employee," he said.

Carey's mother believes she was suffering from post-partum depression. Officials briefed on the investigation say there are indications Carey suffered from delusions.

Carey, 34, lived in Stamford, Connecticut. A neighbor was shocked to hear the news.

"It's just weird that she lived right next to me, I've seen her a bunch of times and didn't know her. She seemed like a nice person," said Olivia Blake.

During the wild chase, officers had no way of knowing Carey was unarmed. Initial reports were that shots had been exchanged with police, but later that was corrected. All officers knew was that Carey had rammed a barricade at the White House and refused all orders to stop at the Capitol.

"We didn't know if there was a shooter. Now we know it was the police that had done the shooting," said Jennifer Arnold, witness.

Carey died. Her young daughter was unhurt.

Capitol Police, who don't know when they'll get their next paycheck because of the government shutdown, received a standing ovation from members of Congress.

Authorities are standing behind their use of deadly force, but are still investigating Miriam Carey's death.

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